Injuries force lineup shuffle

January 2, 2008|By Ira Winderman Staff Writer

MIAMI — The new year will open with a familiar script - a lineup in flux.

With starting small forward Dorell Wright expected to miss at least a week with a sprained left ankle, and with center Shaquille O'Neal putting his ailing left hip at no better than "60 to 70 percent," coach Pat Riley faces the prospect of rolling out his 10th lineup of the season tonight against visiting Milwaukee.

With starting point guard Jason Williams sitting out Tuesday's practice amid continuing knee discomfort, Chris Quinn appears poised to return to the starting lineup, cleared to play after missing a week with a sprained left ankle.

And after going two games with Earl Barron as the starting center in place of O'Neal, Riley hinted Tuesday that Mark Blount could receive his first start since being acquired in October from the Timberwolves.

"There's a possibility," Riley said, "that until Shaq is healthy, we might even start Mark, go back to where he was, as a starter for four or five years, try to get him to feel comfortable."

"The last game that he played," Riley said, "when we were at Philly [last Wednesday], he could barely carry his leg up and down the court."

Said O'Neal: "It's still kind of sore when I get into the getting-ready-to-jump position. I was ordered to just stay off it until it was right."

Wright believes he sprained his ankle during Friday's overtime loss to Orlando.

"Because by the time the game started on Saturday," he said, "I could barely move on the layup line."

THE PURSUED

Milwaukee features two players who got away from the Heat in the offseason.

Riley spent most of last July recruiting Mo Williams, before the Bucks point guard elected to take a deal worth $20 million more than the Heat's maximum-allowable bid to stay with the Bucks.

Riley then extended an offer sheet to Bucks backup guard Charlie Bell, an offer matched by Milwaukee in September.

"You can't look back," Riley said. "You try to work the market as hard as you can. We had a lot of things stacked up against us. ...

"I can't look back on that and say, 'How would it be right now?' I don't know. But I know that both of those guys are good players."

STILL NO SMUSH

Despite being summoned back to South Florida last week, exiled point guard Smush Parker remained banned from practice. Parker has been kept away from the team, with full pay, since late November due to violations of team policies. ...

About the Bucks: This is the first game of the four-game season series. Milwaukee has lost 10 of the past 12 meetings, with six consecutive losses at AmericanAirlines Arena. Milwaukee is coming off a 4-12 December, when it went 1-9 on the road, including Monday's 114-69 loss in Detroit. Guard Mo Williams (Achilles) is questionable. Swingmen Desmond Mason (thumb) and David Noel (wrist) are out.

About the Heat: The Heat has lost four in a row, one shy of its longest losing streak of the season. Center Shaquille O'Neal is two rebounds shy of passing Patrick Ewing for 22nd on the NBA's all-time list. Guard Chris Quinn (ankle) is probable. Guard Jason Williams (knee) is questionable. O'Neal (hip) is doubtful. Center Alonzo Mourning (knee), forward Dorell Wright (ankle) and guard Smush Parker (team violation) are out.